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I.C.M.R. Study to evaluate mental health of tsunami-hit people - Volume 3 Issue 11: Disability News and Information Service for India

I.C.M.R. Study to evaluate mental health of tsunami-hit people

DNIS
News Network- Natural disasters and
calamities not only take a heavy toll on life and property, but also on the
psyche of the survivors. The Asian tsunami, rated as the greatest
human disaster in human history due to its sheer scale, has left millions scarred.

To make an
empirical assessment of the extent of damage caused to the mental health of the
affected people, the Indian Council for Medical Research (I.C.M.R.) has
sanctioned a study to map mental health scenario in the tsunami-hit districts of
Tamil Nadu.

The study, “Mental health-needs assessment and service delivery model in tsunami-hit
districts of coastal Tamil Nadu”, is aimed at conducting qualitative research to
evaluate the mental health of those affected by the tsunami. The project,
with S. Nambi as the principal investigator, will not only look into incidence
of post-traumatic stress disorder, immediately connected with the disaster, but
also other depressive disorders, like alcoholism and exacerbation of mental
illness. Coping mechanisms and response will also be assessed, along with the
status of mental health services available in these areas. The study will
examine the feasibility of integrating the components of mental health service
delivery models into general health and other relief material.

Research teams will develop models for psychological and emotional support for those
involved in relief activities, and assess public satisfaction with the mental
health services and other relief measures during disaster management.

Four
centres have been set up in Tamil Nadu - Chennai, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam and
Kanyakumari - but the entire region touched by the tsunami will be surveyed to
assess the extent of the problem and the form it takes in various villages. The
participants and experts for the study will be drawn from district medical
colleges, and locals will anchor the study at unit level in each unit, so that
it will be sensitive to the unique socio-cultural features of the community in
those areas.